Therapeutic chair



June 29, 1965 BAGNELL 3,191,594

THERAPEUTIC CHAIR Filed Jan. 10, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR KENNETHHOWARD BAGNELL June 29, 1965 K. H. BAGNELL 3,191,594

THERAPEUTI C CHAIR M I... g'

FIG.

INVENTOR KENNETH HOWARD BAGNELL United States Patent 3,191,594THERAPEUTIC CHAIR Kenneth H. Bagnell, 2186 Bendamere Circle, Salt LakeCity, Utah Filed Jan. 10, '1963, Ser. No. 250,683 3 Claims. (Cl. 12824)The present invention relates to therapeutic chairs for hospitals, resthomes and convalescent patients in general and, more particularly, to anew and improved therapeutic chair and electrical system therefor which,in the operating cycle thereof, tilts both sideways and rearwardly in aselected operating sequence so that certain physiological advantages maybe obtained.

This invention is concerned with. the providing of a therapeutic chairwhich tilts slightly, and slowly, in several directions, sequentially,and at given times, so that maladies such as blood clots, hyperstaticpneumonia, and reduced blood circulation willbe avoided for patients.

Accordingly, a principal object of the present invention is to provide anew and improved therapeutic chair which in its operating sequence tiltsfrom side to side, rearwardly and forwardly, back to normal position,for the comfort and help of patients sitting therein; the motion of thechair is designed to be slow and yet sufficiently pronounced so that thedeleterious efiects of reduced circulation, chances of blood clotting,hyperstatic pneumonia,'and so forth can be avoided. i

A further object of the invention is to provide in a convalescent chaira universal joint mount, with appropriate means being provided toselectively tilt the chair rearwardly and again to upright position, andto both sides also, during a particular cycle of operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide in the electrical systemof the present therapeutic chair an alternate, attendant circuit which,when actuated, will return the chair to upright position regardless ofwhat point in the operating cycle the chair is in.

A further object of the invention is to provide asimplified electricalmeans for sequentially tilting progressively a therapeutic chair, thisby the inter-cooperation of wedge-shaped support members beneath thechair, one of which rotates and the other of which remains stationary,these members being intercooperating bearing members.

A further object of the invention is'to provide appropriate limit switchmeans and sensing switch means in the therapeutic chair which performdesired safety limit and return functions, as hereinafter pointed out.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tilting therapeuticchair which can be driven by a minimum number of motor means, this incombination with timing sequence means of conventional design.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The presentinvention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, togetherwith further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood byreference to the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a therapeutic chair according to oneform of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevation of the chair shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation of a chair illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2.

FIGURE 4 is a view, principally in the line 4-4 in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a plan, taken along the line 5-5 in FIG- URE l, of thesupport plate used in the invention.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation taken along the line 6-6 in FIGURE 5.

section, taken along 3,191,594 Ice Patented June 29, 1965 FIGURE 7 is aview partially in section, looking down, and taken along the line 7-7 inFIGURE 2.

FIGURE 8 is a schematic diagram of an electrical circuit which is usedin practicing the present invention according to the embodimentillustrated in FIGURES 1-7. "FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary left sideelevation of a therapeutic chair according to a second form of theinvention.

FIGURE 9A is an enlarged schematic detail taken along the line 9A-9A inFIGURE 9.

FIGURE 9B is a further detail of the sequence control for the embodimentillustrated in FIGURES 9-12.

FIGURES 10 is a rear view of the structure of FIGURE 9 and is takenalong the line 10-10.

FIGURE 11 is a plan taken along the line 11-11 in FIGURE 10,illustrating the support structure of the invention.

FIGURE 12 is a longitudinal vertical section, shown in enlarged scale,of a central portion of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 9.

In FIGURES 1-4 the therapeutic chair 10 of the present invention isshown to include a chair member 11 which is provided with a foam rubberliner 12 and a cover 13. Cover 13 is preferably supplied a pocketportion 14 to slip over the top of chair member 11 as shown in FIGURE 1.Arms 15 and hinges 16, anchored to the chair member 11 by conventionalmeans, are provided with foot rests 17 which may be swung outwardly anddownwardly to support the feet of a patient sitting in the chair. Therespective sides of chair member 11 may be provided with apertures 17awhich receive the ends 18 of crossbar 19, the same being pinned atopposite extremities by retainer pins 20 so as to preclude the crossbarfrom slipping out of its retention with the chair member 11. Crossbar 19serves the purpose of a safety device which keeps the patient frominadvertently falling out of the chair.

Chair member 11 is preferably made of plastic or fiber glass, merely byway of example. Other materials are possible for use, of course. Unlesschair member 11 is formed of metal mounting plates 21 and 22 will besecured to the chair member 11 by conventional attachments. To mountingplate 22 is Welded or otherwise afiixed tubular chair pivot members 23.Corresponding tubular members comprise plate pivot members 24 and 25,and the members 24 and 25 are welded to pivotal support plate 27 and aredisposed in line with members 24 and 25 to receive pivot pin 26.

Frame 28 comprises a U-shaped member 29 provided with the usual fourcasters 30, is open at the front, and has the base of the U toward therear. A transverse central brace 31 is welded or otherwise affixed tothe U- shaped frame member 29, and to the latter at a medial areathereof is welded a U-bracket 32. This portion of the structure will beconsidered at a later point. Support braces 33 are welded to frame 28 atU-shaped member 29 and proceed upwardly and rearwardly as indicated inFIGURE 1. The rear extremities of the support braces 33 are welded torespective, back crossbar, both denoted 34, which are aligned and spacedapart to receive a back crossbar central member 35 that is welded tosupport plate 27. The members 34 and 35 receive a pivot pin 36. Frontcrossbar member 37 is welded to upstanding support braces 33 as shown inFIGURE 3. The support plate 27 is adapted to rest at its forward marginagainst and over the front crossbar 37 when it is in its extreme forwardposition (which, preferably, is the upright position). Mounting brace 38is welded at 39 to support plate 27, see FIGURE 6, and is configuredoutwardly as shown in FIGURE 2 to provide a bifurcated mounting portion41 for receiving mounting ear 42 of actuator 43. Extension member 44 ofactuator 43 is pinned at 45 to bifurcated bracket 46 which is welded at47 to mounting plate 21.

See FIGURES l and 2. A pin 56 pivotally anchors ear 42 to bifurcatedportion41 of member 38, as shown in FIG- URE 2.

In a similar manner, actuator 49 includes an eyemounting portion 50which is pinned at 51 to U-shaped mounting bracket 32, the latter beingWelded as previously mentioned to central brace 31.' Extension arm 52 issuitably apertured and isprovided with a pivot pin 53 for pinning thesame to U-shaped bracket 54. The latter is welded or otherwise affixedto plate 27 of the frame as shown in FIGURE 6.

For added support, support legs 57 may be supplied at both sides of thestructure. Pivot member 45 also pivotally journals arm 58, reciprocatesWithin sleeve 59 of switch mechanism 60. Switch mechanism 69 will bemore fully described hereinafter; at the present point of discussion itwill be understood to be integral, or afiixed, to actuator 43 and themounting means thereof.

Synchronous motor 61 of electrical unit 61' is specifically shown inFIGURE 2, and is mounted to the frame 2% in a conventional manner. Theelectrical circuit associated with synchronous motor 61 will beunderstood to be contained within unit 61' shown. Limit switches 62 and63 include spring-loaded fingers 64 and 65. These switches are mountedby attachments 66 to the chair member 11 in a conventional manner.

Chair member 11, as shown in FIGURE 4 includes seat shoulders 67 and 68which support seat 69, FIGURE 7. The shoulders 68 and 67, FIGURE 4, maybe integral parts of a horizontal member 70 which seats the seat member69 at its lapped margins 71'. Mercury switches 71 and 72 arenormally-open switches and are mounted by bolts X, shims Y to theunderside of chair member 11 as indicated in FIGURE 4. Limit switchmechanism 74 is securely mounted to actuator 49 as shown in FIGURE 2.

The electrical circuit shown in schematic form in FIG- URE 8 applies toone form of the present invention, FIGURES 1-7, and will now beconsidered. Motor 61 includes a shaft 75 to which discs 76 is keyed.Disc 76 includes a peripheral cam 77 which sequentially engages andthereby closes the normally open microswitches #1-44'8. The severalmicroswitches #1 through #8 are positioned as shown about the peripheryof disc 76, are normally open, and are sequentially closed, as beforementioned, by cam 77 as it revolves. The motor 61 is a synchronousmotor, may self-contain a gear reduction means, and has a final outputof one revolution per two hours, merely by way of example. Leads '7835are respectively connected between one side of each of the microswitches#1418 to corresponding terminals Nos. 18 of terminal bus 86. Remainingleads 87-94 are connected to the remaining sides of microswitches #1-8and also to ring conductor 95, and the latter is directly connected bylead 96 to terminal 97 of control switch 98. Control switch 98 includesanother terminal 99 and a pivot contact arm 1%, and the latter isconnected by rectifier 101 to one side of the output winding and 192 oftransformer 193 is maintained at ground potential, as shown, and'isconnected by lead 195 to junction 106. Input plug 197 is adapted forcoupling to an alternating current power source, and leads 198 and 109thereof are directly connected to motor 61, serving as input leads. Oneof the lines 108 and 199 includes a fuse 119 as shown.

Actuator 49 includes a motor 111, a gear box 112 coupled to the outputshaft thereof. Gear box 112 includes a final output gear 113 which isappropriately journaled and which includes an interior threaded ortoothed bore 114 which cooperates with the threads or teeth 115 ofextension arm 52. Thus, rotation of output gear 113 in one directionwill produce a raising of extension arm 52, whereas an oppositerevolvement of output gear 113 will produce aretraction or lowering ofextension arm 52. Sleeve 116 encases extension arm 52 and permits theslidable movement therewithin of the same.

Extension arm 52 includes a cam 117 which travels between and actuatesthe spring-loaded buttons 118 and 119 of normally closed limit switches120 and 121. These limit switches are enclosed within limit switchesmechanism 74. The mechanism shown at the upper righthand portion of theschematic in FIGURE 8 illustrates the mechanism by which the chair istilted rearwardly, by the extension of extension arm 52, and is broughtback to central or sitting position by the retraction of the extensionarm 52.

Actuator 43, through the extension of its extension arm 44, tilts thechair to the right (with respect to the patient sitting therein),whereas retraction of extension arm 44 tilts the chair to the left.Actuator 43 may be identical to actuator 49 so far as its included gearreduction means 112 and extension arm 52 are concerned, except that inthe case of actuator 43, the cam 117 of extension arm 52 is notincluded. Rather, extension arm 44 is provided with a transverse pin 53which journals limit switch extension rod 58. This rod is journaled inan appropriate sleeve 59 and is adapted for slidable movement within thelimit switch mechanism 60. Extension rod 58 includes an indented,recessed margin 122 which, upon contact with switch arm roller 123 ofswitch arm 124, will allow the arm 124 and the contact arms 125-128physically ganged thereto to spring outwardly, toward arm 124, so as toenable the contact of arms 125 and 126 with contacts 129 and 130, andsimultaneously to release contact of arms 127 and 128 with the'switchcontacts 131 and 132. Leads 200-203 are connected to contact 132, tojunctions 147 and 204, to mercury switch 72, and to terminal 7 in themanner shown. Lead 133 is connected betweenthe power motor terminal, ofmotor 111, of actuator 43 and switch arms 125 and 128; correspondingly,lead 134 is connected between the remaining power side of motor 111, ofactuator 43, and switch arms 126 and 127. It should be mentioned at thisjuncture that the motors as at 1110f both actuators 49 and 43 are doublewinding motors such that the supplying of voltage from the power supplyto one power lead of the motor will cause the same to rotate in onedirection, whereas the supplying of power to the remaining power leadwill cause the motor to rotate in the opposite direction. Motor 111leads 149 and 105 are grounded. Lead 134' is coupled between contact 129and contact 135 of normally closed limit switch 62; switch arm 136 ofswitch 62 is directly connected by lead 137 to terminal No. 2 ofterminal bus 86. In a similar manner, lead 138 is directly connected tocontact 139 of limit switch 63 which is normally closed. Switch arm 140is connected by lead 141 to terminal 6 of bus 86. Again, limit switch 62and 63 are normally closed, and the fingers 64 and 65, which are springloaded outwardly, upon depression, selectively, will serve to open theserespective limit switches. Lead 142 interconnects junction 143 andmercury switch 71 at terminal 144 thereof. Remaining terminal 145 isconnected by lead 146 to junction 147 and also to junction 148 andterminal 99 of switch 98. Lead 149 is a ground or common referencepotential lead interconnecting the ground terminals of motors 111 of thetwo actuators 49 and 43 and is common to junction 106 and lead 105. Lead15% interconnects one power terminal of motor 111 and switch arm 151 ofswitch 121. Contact 152 of switch 121 is connected by lead 153 tojunction 154. In a similar manner the lead 155 is connected to the otherpower terminal of motor 111 and interconnects the same with switch arm156 of switch 120. Contact 157 is coupled by a lead 158 to junction 159which is common to terminal 1 of bus 86. a

The electrical system shown in FIGURE 8, in conjunction with thestructure therein shown and also illustrated in FIGURES 13,'i1lustrateone form of the invention wherein a particular sequence of operation ispredetermined. Other arrangements are of-course possible; however, it isbelieved that the present sequence of operation is very much to bedesired, for therapeutical considerations.

At the outset it is noted that plug 107 supplies alternating current tothe synchronous motor 61 and also to transformer 103. Thus, the motor 61is supplied power, and pulsating directive current at lower voltage issupplied to the control system by virtue of the inclusion in the circuitof transformer 103 and rectifier 101. The output through rectifier 1131may be filtered by suitable filter means if desired. The system is soset up that, immediately prior to the engagement of cam 77 withmicroswitch #1 the chair will be in a central sitting position. Thismeans that extension arm 52 will be completely retracted so that cam 117will be in engagement with button 119, opening limit switch 121 andleaving limit switch 120 closed. When cam 117 is disengaged from limitswitch 120 so as to enable the contacts thereof to close, then currentwill flow through lead 78 to terminal 1, when cam 77 engages and therebycloses microswitch #1, and from thence will proceed via juncture 159 andlead 158 through the contacts of normally closed switch 120 and fromthence will continue through lead 155 to power motor 111 of actuator 49such that the output gear 113 will rotate so as to ext-end the extensionarm 52 within sleeve 116. Thus, extension arm 52 proceeds upwardly so asto tilt the chair to a back-central position. This movement continuesuntil cam 117 engages button 118 so as to open the circuit to motor 111at lead 155. Power at this juncture is not supplied lead 159 leading tothe other side, that is, the oppositely revolving power side of themotor, since lead 153 is not at this time supplied power throughterminal 8 of terminal bus 86, or otherwise, since'switch arm 160 is inregular operating position and since microswitch #8 is now open.

The chair will remain in its now backwardly tilted position until cam 77engages microswitch #2, at which time this microswitch closes so as tosupply power to terminal 2 of terminal bus 86 and from thence throughlead 137 and through normally closed switch 62 to contact 129. At thisjuncture it will be noted that roller 123 is in a central position andis extended outwardly into recessed margin 122 such that switch arm 125engages contact 129; thus, power is supplied to power motor lead 133 topower motor 111 of actuator 43 such that the extension arm 44 extendsoutwardly, thus tilting the chair from its rear central position to arear-right position. Movement of the chair continues until springloadedfinger 64 of switch 62 engages support plate 27, at which point thiscircuit is open and the chair stops its travel. This chair dispositionremains until cam 77 engages rnicroswitch #3, at which point power issupplied by terminal 3 to junction 143 and to contact 130 which, becauseof the outward extension of the limit switch extension rod 58 and theoutward position of roller 123, will conduct through arm 126 to theopposite power lead 134 so as to drive motor 111 of actuator 43 in theopposite direction. Thus, the chair commences to proceed from itsextreme rear-right position back to the central rear position and, whensuch is achieved, the switch arm roller 123 commences to ride up rod 58and, thereby, to open contacts 129 and 130 with respect to arms 125 and126 and, simultaneously, to close arms 127 and 128 with contacts 131 and132. Thus, the chair is stopped in its return to rear-central position,at rearcentral position, by virtue of the cam-configuration of limitswitch extension rod 58.

The circuit condition shown in FIGURE 8 illustrates the disc as beingrotated such that cam 77 now is about to engage microswitch #4, therebyclosing the same to supply power through terminal 4, junctions 154, lead153, the normally closed switch 121 and lead 150 to motor 111. Thisenergizes one of the power windings of motor 111 to rotate output gear113 appropriately for retraction of extension arm 52. The chair willtilt forwardly and, when cam 117 engages spring-loaded button 119 atswitch 121 the switch will be opened to deenergize motor 49, thusmaintaining the chair in an upright sitting position.

The motor 61 continues to revolve disc 76 so that cam 77 now engagesmicroswitch #5. This supplies power through terminal 5 to junction 159and thence through lead 158 and through normally closed switch to powerlead associated with motor 111 of actuator 43. return to the center rearposition for the chair until oxtension arm 52, in traveling upwardlly,engages switch button 118 so as to open switch 126.

The motor 61 continues to rotate until, ultimately, microswitch #6 isengaged. The closing of this microswitch supplies power through terminal6 and lead 141, through limit switch 63 and from thence Via lead 138 tocontact 131 and from thence through arm 127 to one power lead associatedwith motor 111 of actuator 43. Thus, the actuator 43 retracts inwardlyso as to pivot the chair to the patients left. This continues untilplate 27 engages spring-loaded finger 65 of limit switch 63, at whichpoint this switch opens so as to cut off power to motor 111 of actuator43. The motor 61 and disc 76 continue to rotate until cam 77 engagesmicroswitch #7, at which point the power supplied through terminal 7 ofbus 86 and from thence upwardly via lead 200 to contact 132, and fromthere through contact arm 128 to the opposite power lead i.e., 133 thistime, to motor 111 of actuator 43. This serves to extend the extensionarm 44 and, simultaneously, limits the switch extension arm 58 until thelatter goes upwardly such that the ball 123 of switch 60 extendsoutwardly at indented margin 122. This opens the motor circuit by virtueof the leftward movement of the associated switch arms of switch 61).

At this juncture it will be noted that the chair has been returned toback-center position. Return of the chair to center, erect position isaccomplished, as will now be seen, through the closing by cam 77 ofmicroswitch #8 as the motor 61 continues to revolve. This supplies powerthrough terminal 8 to juncture 154 and from thence upwardly via lead153, through switch 121, and from thence via lead to the motor so as toretract extension arm 52. Again, this will continue until cam 117engages button 119 of switch 121, at which point this motor circuit asvia lead 150 will open,

Thus far we have followed the cycle through the regular setting ofswitch 98. Of course, the entire system can be turned oil? by themovement of arm 100 between contacts 97 and 99. There is also includedan attendant circuit, and the entire system may be switched from regularposition to the attendant circuit position by the movement of arm 100 toengage contact 99. Upon such movement, then, power supplies junctions148, 154, and also junction 147. The latter junction supplies power tomercury switches 71 and 72 which are mounted as shown in FIGURE 4. Themercury switches are so constructed that at a chair-erect position therewill be no conduction through either mercury switch. However, when thechair is either tilted to the right or to the left, power will besupplied the respective mercury switch. It will be noted with referenceto merucry switches 71 and 72 that the tilting of the chair willuniquely affect the electrical condition of the respective switches.

Switch 32, see FIGURES 8 and 4, will be electrically closed by themercury contained therein when the chair has been tilted to the left.Thus, when the attendant switch is to contact 99 of switch 98, mercuryswitch 72 will conduct so as to supply power through contact arm 128 toone side of the motor 111 of actuator 43. It is to be noted that thereis a direct coupling between the mercury switch 72 and terminal 7 on bus86. It will be remembered that powering this terminal will pivot thechair from left to right until a central position is reached. This isthe same in the case of the operation of mercury switch 72 also, andsince this switch will return to a nonconducting state, owing to thedisplacements of mercury 7 surface level, once the chair has achieved itcentral position.

Mercury switch 71 is connected to contact and through arm 126 to motor111. Thus, power will be supplied the motor 111 of actuator 43 when thechair is tilted to the patients right, this by virtue of the action ofmercury switch 71. Again, this circuit will open upon return of thechair to a central position by virtue of nonconduction through themercury switch at that position.

It will be noted that at the attendant position of switch 98, junction154 receives power. This power is transmitted along lead 153 andproceeds through switch 121 to motor lead of motor 111. This serves toretract extension arm 42 until cam 117 actuates spring loaded button 119of switch 121, at which point the chair will be in a central position.Thus, the closing of the attendant circuit not only returns the chair toa central position relative to right-and-left movement, but also returnsthe chair upwardly from any rearward displacement which it may emoy.

In FIGURES 9-12 are illustrated another embodiment of the invention.Chair is the same as chair 11 in FIGURE 1, or may be substantially so ingeneral detail, except for the electro-mechanical tilting systemassociated therewith.

In FIGURE 9 chair 160 is illustrated a pair of, cylindricallyconfigured, wedge-shaped discs 161 and 162. The former is attached tothe chair 160 by conventional means and is configured to fit the underside of the chair. Wedgeshaped disc 161 is shown in section in FIGURE 12and is illustrated as being secured to the chair 160 by mountingattachment 164. Suitable means at 165 is provided for a ball and socketjoint, and is shown to include a ball 167 and socket halves 178, 178'between disc 161 and shaft 166 the end of which is integral with theball. The ball and socket means shown is conventional and is disposedwithin bore 168. Annular bearing rings 169 and 170 are affixed towedge-shaped members 161 and 162, respectively, are disposed about shaft166, engage each other, and provide a suitable bearing contact betweenthe two discs 161 and 162. correspondingly, similar bearing rings 171and 172 are aflixed to wedge 162 and also to plate 173, which may becircular. Attachments 174 secure sleeve 175 to plate 173, and sleeve 175forms an integral part of gear housing 176, the latter being attached todrive motor 177. A suitable key at 178 keys the bottom wedge-shaped disc162 to the shaft 166. Thus, power supplied to shaft 166 will rotate theshaft and will also rotate the wedge-shaped disc 162 associatedtherewith so that the latter will revolve between plate 173 and affixeddisc 161. As the wedge-shaped disc 162 continues to revolve there willbe displacements in the plane of the top surface 179 of the chair (seat)and of disc 161 and, correspondingly, a simultaneous tilting of chair160. The disc 161 in FIG- URE 12 will have to rotate a complete 360 inorder for the chair to assume its normal upright position as shown inFIGURE 9.

Preferably, the revolving of motor 177 is not continu ous. Rather, thereis an appropriate timer mechanism that is preferably supplied so thatthe motor will run intermittently, for predetermined intervals of time,and there will be a predetermined time spacing between motor actuations.As an example, the gearing of the motor 177 and its time sequence ofenergization may be such, merely by way of example, that the disc 162will rotate 90 in accordance with the 90 rotation of shaft 166, during afifteen minute time interval. The time spacing between motorenergization of motor 177 may be controlled by any appropriate means.FIGURES 9A and 9B indicate a timer means of simplified form forcontrolling motor 177. Thus, input leads 180 and 181 are connected toplug 182 and lead into auxiliary motor 183. Shaft 184 of motor 183 iskeyed to disc 185 which is of insulative material and which includesinverted-dimple type protuberances 186 which are disposed preferablyequidistantly from the center of shaft 81 and which sequently engageprotuberance 187 of movable switch arm 183. The protuberance 186, uponcontact therewith, moves switch arm 186 outwardly so as to engage fixedswitch arm 189, and this causes a closing of the electrical circuit tomotor 177. Leads 190, 191 and 192 complete the circuit as shown inFIGURE 9. The spacing of the protuberances 186 is illustrated in FIG-URE 9B.

To complete the structure a suitable stand 193 may be supplied andincludes a base 1% and a plurality of legs 195 supporting the centralplate 173, being welded thereto.

For certain types of therapeutic treatment, the system of FIGURES 1*8may well be preferable. For other types of treatment wherein a cyclicaltilting is desired as is accomplished by the structure of FIGURES 9-12,the second embodiment of the invention may well be preferred. Wheretherapeutic considerations are equivalent, then the structure of FIGURES912 is deemed preferable, owing to its simplicity.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatchanges and modifications may be made without departing from thisinvention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in theappended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fallwithin the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A therapeutic chair including: a unitary frame comprising a seatportion having a front, a rear, and two side extremities, a back portionextending upwardly from the rear extremity of the seat portion, a legrest portion depending from the front extremity of said seat portion,and a pair of retainer walls positioned one at each side extremity ofthe seat portion and extending the length of the back, the seat, and theleg rest; a pair of foot rests, each having a substantially flatsurface; means mounting each of said foot rests on said leg rest forpivotal movement between a rest position wherein its substantially flatsurface extends substantially normal to and below the leg rest portionand an out-of-the-way position wherein said flat surface is positionedsubstantially flush against the leg rest portion; rigid locking meansinterconnecting said retainer walls, said rigid locking means extendingover said seat portion, whereby a person sitting in the chair issecurely held from falling in a forward direction out of the chair; astand; means interconnecting the frame and the stand and for tilting theframe about a plurality of axes; and means for slowly driving said chairthrough a predetermined cycle of tilted and upright positions about saidaxes.

2. A therapeutic chair as claimed in claim 1, wherein said meansinterconnecting the frame and the stand includes a rod fixed to thestand and extending across the chair beneath the seat portion; a baseplate; means journalling one side of said base plate on said rod; atubular member on the side of the base plate opposite the journallingmeans, said tubular member extending normal to the rod fixed to thestand; a corresponding tubular member fixed to the bottom of the seatportion; and a pivot pin interconecting the tubular members on the baseplate and seat portion, whereby said chair is rotatable about both saidrod fixed to the base and said pivot pin interconnecting the tubularmembers.

3. A therapeutic chair as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means forslowly driving said chair through a predetermined cycle of tilted andupright positions includes a pair of electric motors; a reciprocatingactuator rod driven by each of said motors; means pivotally connectingone of said motors to the base plate; means pivotally connecting theactuator rod of the motor connected to the base plate to the bottom ofthe seat portion at a point offset from the axis of the pivot pin; meanspivotally connecting the other of said motors to the stand; and meanspivotally connecting the actuator rod of the other of said motors to thebot- 9 10 tom of the chair at a point intermediate the rod on which1,686,979 10/28 McManis 12833 XR the base plate is journalled and thefront of the chair. 2,206,902 7/40 Kost 128-25 References Cited! by theExaminer i2 0s UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,893,380 7/59 Walker et a1 12s33 X 296,975 4/84 Lampton 297390 1,190,523 7/ 16 Dodd 297-433 RICHARD A.GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

1. A THERAPEUTIC CHAIR INCLUDING: A UNITARY FRAME COMPRISING A SEATPORTION HAVING A FRONT, A REAR, AND TWO SIDE EXTREMITIES, A BACK PORTIONEXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE REAR EXTREMITY OF THE SEAT PORTION, A LEGREST PORTION DEPENDING FROM THE FRONT EXTREMITY OF SAID SEAT PORTION,AND A PAIR OF RETAINER WALLS POSITIONED ONE AT EACH SIDE EXTREMITY OFTHE SEAT PORTION AND EXTENDING THE LENGTH OF THE BACK, THE SEAT, AND THELEG REST; A PAIR OF FOOT RESTS, EACH HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY FLATSURFACE; MEANS MOUNTING EACH OF SAID FOOT RESTS ON SAID LEG REST FORPIVOTAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN A REST POSITION WHEREIN ITS SUBSTANTIALLY FLATSURFACE EXTENDS SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO AND BELOW THE LEG REST PORTIONAND AN OUT-OF-THE-WAY POSITION WHEREIN SAID FLAT SURFACE IS POSITIONEDSUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH AGAINST THE LEG REST PORTION; RIGID LOCKING MEANSINTERCONNECTING SAID RE-